Wild Wood Adventure Playground Open from 1st August 2026

A spectacular new children’s adventure playground set in beautiful woodland will open at Waddesdon Manor this summer.

Inspired by the historic Buckinghamshire chateau, the Wild Wood Adventure Playground is a unique series of exciting features crafted from wood – complete with towers and tunnels, slides and swings – and has been specially designed for youngsters aged between 2 and 12-years old.

Nestling in its atmospheric woodland setting, its layout complements the natural environment and will inspire children’s imaginations as they clamber and climb, and engage and encounter its winding routes and hidden surprises.

Opening from Saturday 1^st August, in readiness for the school holidays the Wild Wood Adventure Playground Project is funded by The Rothschild Foundation, recognising the huge importance of family visits to Waddesdon Manor.

Entry to the Playground is included in a Grounds Entry ticket, with no extra charge and free to National Trust members, so families can come and play as many times as they want.

The playground has been created by leading natural playground specialists TouchWood Play, who conducted a series of workshops with local community groups and schools in Buckinghamshire to help discover what children and families want to have in the new experience.

What emerged out of these sessions was the wish for a bigger and more inclusive space, bursting with areas to climb, run and play, all while enjoying the woodland hillside setting. Wild Wood features multi-play opportunities, where children of all ages can play together with more accessible pathways plus areas where the parents can get involved too, allowing families to enjoy the experience together.

The result is a unique design which has been created exclusively for Waddesdon Manor – designed by families for families.

Joe Cooper, founder of TouchWood Play, explains “When people use playgrounds nowadays, it’s no longer just a certain age group, it’s actually all ages and all abilities who seek to engage in play. We focused closely on providing a range of different entry-level experiences in play throughout the site, so the whole family can enjoy the adventure together.”

One of the playground’s standout features is the Lost Mansion, an imaginative structure inspired by the Manor. George Ainsworth, designer at TouchWood Play, says: “I’m really looking forward to seeing how people react to the Lost Mansion, because there are so many odd ends and mirror rooms inside it, so that children can really engage their imaginative, adventurous side.”

Another major feature is the Plaviary, an elevated treetop experience which links to Waddesdon Manor’s existing hill slide and offers panoramic views across the estate. Its name is a direct reference to the famous and zoologically important Aviary in the Manor’s grounds (one of Europe’s smallest registered zoos).

Joe Cooper describes this exciting part of the Wild Wood project: “We have created this treetop walkway which links the new installation of the Plaviary to the big slide on the hill, so children can travel quite a long way at height with different challenges and stopping spots along the way through netted tunnels and other exciting play features. It will be very beautiful, impressive and really playful.”

Visitors will also encounter a large wooden mynah bird (inspired by the Rothschild mynah, or Leucopsar rothschildi – which can be seen for real in the Aviary) and other Waddesdon Manor related animals, including a stick insect and Poupon, Waddesdon Manor’s founder Baron Ferdinand’s beloved and renowned poodle of that name.

In addition to the new playground, families will be able to enjoy a new woodland trail along Miss Alice’s Drive, as well as picnic areas, cafés and a wealth of family events throughout the summer.

Pippa Shirley, Director of Waddesdon Manor says: “I am so excited about the opening of the new playground and the way it will bring the garden and woodlands to life for children and families. TouchWood have been such collaborative partners and have helped us create something which could only be found here at the Manor – reflecting so much that is distinctive about our wonderful site. It’s also been completely inspiring to be part of a project specifically designed for and by our young visitors to bring them here and encourage them to play, to challenge themselves and simply to be in nature. We all know, in our technologically dominated world, how important these moments are, and how important it is for families to connect and make their own unique memories. We’re all incredibly proud that the Wild Wood can play a part in that.”

For full details of everything that Waddesdon Manor has to offer for families, garden lovers and art fans – please visit the website.

ENDS